Matthew D. Barrett
Personal Injury & Criminal Defense Attorney
- Biography
I have a state-wide law practice representing people (NOT government or insurance companies) throughout Indiana. I practice in the areas of personal injury accidents, wrongful death, DUI/Drunk Driving, and criminal defense. I offer a FREE initial consultation. All personal injury and wrongful death cases are handled on a contingency fee basis (NO FEE unless you win; percentage taken from the recovery) and reasonable fees for all DUI/criminal cases including payment plans. For more information, please call my office at (574) 753-3300, visit my website at www.barrettlaw-office.com, or send me an e-mail at matt.barrett@barrettlaw-office.com. I look forward to speaking with you.
- Practice Areas
- Personal Injury
- Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- DUI & DWI
- Insurance Claims
- Bad Faith Insurance, Business Insurance, Disability Insurance, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Motor Vehicle Insurance, Property Insurance
- Medical Malpractice
- Birth Injury, Medical Misdiagnosis, Pharmacy Errors, Surgical Errors
- Appeals & Appellate
- Civil Appeals
- Video Conferencing
Video Conferencing
Zoom
- Fees
Fees
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Free Consultation
I offer a FREE, initial, no obligation consultation for all personal injury, wrongful death, and criminal defense cases either in person at my office or over the telephone. -
Credit Cards Accepted
We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and bank cards. -
Contingent Fees
All personal injury and wrongful death cases are handled on a contingency fee basis (i.e., no fee unless you win; percentage of fee taken out of recovery). For all DUI and criminal matters, I charge a reasonable fee and offer payment plans.
- Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Indiana
- Since 2003
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- Languages
Languages
- English:
Spoken, Written
- Professional Experience
- Indiana Trial Lawyers Association
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Current
- American Association Of Justice
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Current
- Education
- Valparaiso University School of Law
- J.D. | Law
- Honors: Honors: Special Commendation for Pro Bono Externship Honors: Honor Papers in Pretrial Skills and Advanced Appellate Advocacy
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- Indiana University – Indiana University-Bloomington
- B.A. | English (major), History (minor)
- Honors: Dean’s List multiple times
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- Awards
- Harrison Legal Writing Award (First Place)
- Indiana State Bar Association
- Harrison Legal Writing Award (Second Place)
- Indiana State Bar Association
- Top 40 Under 40 (Indiana)
- The National Trial Lawyers
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers (Indiana)
- The National Trial Lawyers
- Recognition Award for trial advocacy
- Rue Ratings Best Attorneys of America
- Top 40 Under 40 (Indiana)
- National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys
- Professional Associations
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State Bar of Indiana
 # 23884-64
- Member
- Current
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- See my webpage at www.barrettlaw-office.com
- Current
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- Indiana Trial Lawyers Assoc., Indiana State Bar Assoc., American, Association of Justice
- Member
- Current
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- The National Trial Lawyers
- Current
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- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Life Member
- Current
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- Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Life Member
- Current
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- Elite Lawyers of America, Life Member
- Current
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- National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, Member
- Current
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- Rue Ratings’ Best Attorneys of America, Member
- Current
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- Publications
Articles & Publications
- “A Brief Review of What Types of Claims Fall Within and Outside the Scope of Indiana’s Medical Malpractice Act”, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, VERDICT, 2006
- “A Case of Bad Breath: Does the Odor of an Alcoholic Beverage, By Itself, Establish Probable Cause for a Police Officer to Offer Chemical Test In the Context of DWI Offenses?”, Open Court, Newsletter of the Criminal Justice Section, Indiana State Bar Asso
- “A Modest Proposal: Submitting a Joint Discovery Plan In Federal Court”, American Bar Association – The Young Lawyer, September, 2006
- “And Just Where Do You Think You’re Going?”: Police Detention of Passenger Who Walks Away From Vehicle During Traffic Stop, Res Gestae, March, 2006
- “Brendlin v. California: Supreme Court Holds That a Passenger Is “Seized” for Fourth Amendment Purposes and Can Challenge Legality of a Traffic Stop”, Open Court, Newsletter of the Criminal Justice Section, Indiana State Bar Association, Vol. XII, No. 2,
- “Calm the Child Witness”, TRIAL, Journal of the American Association for Justice (formerly American Trial Lawyers Association), February, 2008
- “Coughing It Up: Indiana Supreme Court Holds That Police Chokeholds Are Unreasonable Searches and Seizures”, Open Court, Newsletter of the Criminal Justice Section, Indiana State Bar Association, Vol. XIII, No. 1, February, 2008
- “Estoppel to Extend Insurance Coverage Based on Bad Faith”, Indiana Civil Litigation Review (publication of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana), Vol 5., No. 2, November, 2008
- “Failing to Provide Police Protection: Breeding a Viable and Consistent ‘State-Created Danger’ Analysis for Establishing Constitutional Violations Under Section 1983”, 37 Valparaiso University Law Review 1, Fall, 2002
- “Federal Preemption of State Law Claims Involving Class III Medical Devices”, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Trial Journal, Vol. 10, No. 1, Winter, 2007
- “Groundless Cases Still Get Into Court”, Indiana Lawyer (Featured Interview), (Vol. 17, No. 10) July/August, 2006
- “Holding a Surgeon Liable for Medical Negligence of Another Under the ‘Captain-of-the Ship’ Doctrine”, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, VERDICT, 2010
- “How to Deal With an Objection of Privilege Based on Indiana’s Peer Review Statute During the Course of Pre-Trial Discovery”, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, VERDICT, 2005
- “Indiana’s New ‘Communication of Sympathy’ Statute: Saying ‘I’m Sorry’ In the Context of Medical Malpractice and Other Personal Injury Accidents”, Indiana Lawyer, (Vol. 17, No. 8) June/July, 2006
- “Preparing Your Client for Deposition Testimony”, American Bar Association – The Young Lawyer, July/August, 2005
- “Recovering Damages for Tortious Injury to Historic Buildings and Other ‘Special Purpose’ Property In Indiana: Drawing the Line Between Fair Market Value and Cost Repair’ In Cases of Permanent Damage”, Res Gestae, December, 2006
- “Recovery for Separate Acts of Negligence Under Indiana Medical Malpractice Act”, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, VERDICT, 2011
- “Reducing the State’s Cut: Amending Indiana’s Split-Award Statute In Punitive Damage Cases”, The Indiana Litigator, Newsletter of the Litigation Section, Indiana State Bar Association, Summer, 2008
- “Representing Children In Cases Involving Wrongful Death of a Parent”, Res Gestae, July/August, 2008
- “Supreme Court Clarifies Five Exceptions to Nonliability Involving Personal Injury Claims Asserted by a Contractor’s Employee”, Indiana Civil Litigation Review (publication of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana), Vol. 3, No. 2, May, 2007
- “The Attorney Commitment In Traumatic Brain Injury Cases”, American Bar Association – The Young Lawyer, November, 2007
- “Waiver of Right Forms Under Miranda: Not a Ritual of Words to be Recited by Rote According to Didactic Niceties”, Open Court, Newsletter of the Criminal Justice Section, Indiana State Bar Association, Vol. XI, No. 1, December, 2006
- Websites & Blogs
Websites & Blogs
- Contact & Address
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